LUCELEC and Wind Tex Officially Launch Phase 1 of Potential Wind Farm

On Thursday April 23, 2015 the St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) together with its partner Wind Tex Energy and with support from the Government of Saint Lucia officially opened and toured the site of a wind measurement tower at Anse Canot in Dennery.

The wind measurement tower is Phase 1 (the investigation phase) for a potential 12MW wind farm. This phase is a 50/50 partnership with Wind Tex Energy – a Texas based wind developer. The tower has been set up to collect wind speed and other data over the next several months.  The data will determine the feasibility and viability of the wind farm and inform the subsequent design.

The site was chosen based on a 2003 study conducted by LUCELEC. LUCELEC invested in the apparatus to facilitate this initial exploration. Wind Tex Energy has secured a lease on the land and is contributing the technology and expertise in wind farm development. 

LUCELEC’s Managing Director Trevor Louisy says it has not been an easy road to get to this point, citing several challenges between 2002 and now in LUCELEC’s attempts to establish a wind farm on the island.  And the establishment of the wind measurement tower is a significant milestone.

“For St. Lucia it is the first major tangible step in the development of a utility scale renewable energy project that puts the country on the path to meeting its goal of providing 35% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. Should the feasibility studies prove that the site is suitable for a wind farm, it would mean progress towards some degree of energy independence and a reduction in the country’s fossil fuel import bill,” he explained.

Mr. Louisy added that for LUCELEC, it is an opportunity to diversify its generation portfolio and to build upon the substantial investments the company has made in meeting St. Lucia’s electricity needs. 

“It is important that LUCELEC has an equity position in this project, as well as in any future development of the eventual wind farm, because whatever is paid for wind power in the end will be reflected in the tariffs our customers pay for electricity.  It is also important to LUCELEC to seek to encourage further local investment in the wind farm project, and provide opportunities for potential St. Lucian shareholders to share in whatever returns are to be made from the project,” he expounded.